To The CHS Class of 1974

Class of 1974,

It is my understanding that most famous painters like, Da Vinci, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt, painted in layers. What we see as their finished products, are made up of colors, upon sketches, upon mistakes, upon other colors…layers. Some of the first brush strokes placed on the canvas can no longer be seen, however, they are still present as an essential part of the process. It is said that these different layers help give the paintings texture and character.

One of our fellow classmates recently posted on Facebook that they were looking forward to this reunion in order to meet up with “Past Friends and Classmates”…not “Old Friends and Classmates”. What a stroke of genius! I’m tired of hearing the clichés like, “I’m not the person I used to be”, and “If I could only be 18 again”. I prefer, “It is what it is” and “Let it be”. We sometimes need the mistakes and “do-overs” in our lives. They are a part of our colors and layers, and make us who we are.

We are all still works in progress.

It is a fact that 4 decades have passed since our graduations from Central High School. Your Reunion Committee hopes we all realize that our youth, vigor, and early experiences haven’t disappeared…they are just a few layers deep and still an essential part of the unique “masterpieces” we are all becoming.

Butch Baker

Reunion Committee: Candis Rodgers Hicks, Joe Lee, Sherri Lee, Laura Ducote, Donna Gass Robison, Michele Williams Stout, Jan Landgraf, Larry Melton, Kerry Scudder, Donna Smith Massey, Chuck Hodapp, Becky Hardy DeMarinis, Pat Barton

Joe Lee's Message for our departed 1974 Classmates. CHS 40th Class Reunion

Photo by Sherri Lee

John 11:35 - “Jesus wept”
  

When Jesus saw how distraught Lazarus’s friends and family were, he himself was overcome by his human side and began to weep. This is a little strange, knowing that in an instant that his friend could be, and would be raised and alive again. This was no challenge for the Son of God.

Jesus wept for a couple of reasons.

#1 – He felt great love and compassion for his followers, and was moved by their pain and grief. This is a great example of how much he loves each of us.

#2 – Jesus wept because he saw that even though they were believers, He saw that their faith was not strong enough to let them see that this “sleep” or death was momentary, and that true life was eternal and everlasting.

Over the last 40 years, we have all lost loved ones – friends, family, spouses, children, Mothers and Fathers. When we next meet, be it 5 years, 10 years, maybe next week, we will most likely have experienced the loss of another loved one.

There is a good possibility that some of us gathered together here this morning won’t be here when we gather next time.

Take time to mourn and remember those that we have lost, Jesus did… and if Jesus wept at the loss of Lazarus, then surely he weeps for each of us.

And keep in mind that even those that Jesus resurrected are not alive today…. At least not alive in the way we understand.

But my prayer for each of us is that our faith, weak as is sometimes can be, will lift us and give us that blessed assurance that that those loved ones that we now weep for, will one day rejoice in that great reunion in Heaven.

One of my favorite poems explains an Earthly vision of our passing.

A ship sails and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon and someone by my side says “She is gone”.

Gone where?  Gone from my sight, that is all.

She is just as large now as when I last saw her.

Her diminished size and total loss from my sight is in me, not her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says “She is gone”, there are others who are watching her come over their horizon, and other voices take up a glad shout, “There she comes!”

That is what dying is, a Horizon and just the limit of our sight.  Lift us up, Oh Lord, that we may see further. 

Joe Lee